JP2005107933A - Portable article management device - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide an article management device that can pseudo-manage articles and search for an article even in a radio-unreachable place. <P>SOLUTION: When an ID code of a radio tag 20 is read in, a position identification part 103 identifies the reading position. A timekeeping part 104 identifies the reading date/time of the ID code. An article information registration part 105 registers the read ID code in an article information table 70 by associating the reading position and reading date/time. In response to a given article specification operation, a search article specification part 107 commands an article search part 108 to search for the specified article. The article search part 108 extracts the reading position and reading date/time of the ID code of the specified article out from the article information table 70. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a portable article management apparatus that provides information necessary for searching for an article to an owner, and more particularly to a portable article management apparatus having a function of specifying its own position.

  Patent Document 1 discloses an article management system in which a seal-like receiver is attached to a managed article, a radio signal is transmitted from a transmitter, and whether or not the receiver exists in the vicinity is detected. In this article management system, it is possible to efficiently search for articles by acquiring the distance and direction to the receiver.

  In Patent Document 2, radio waves are transmitted from a transmitter possessed by the owner, and are received by a receiver attached to baggage or carry-on, and the transmitter and the receiver are separated and received by the receiver. There has been disclosed a forgotten article prevention detector that detects an alarm when an electric field intensity of a radio wave is below a reference intensity.

Patent Document 3 includes a left-behind object prevention function and a left-behind object search function. The left-behind object prevention function generates an alarm sound when the transmitter and the receiver are separated from each other by a predetermined distance or more. A forgotten object prevention device that generates an alarm sound when a machine approaches a predetermined distance or more is disclosed.
JP 2002-338013 A JP-A-8-161653 JP-A-6-44475

  In Patent Document 1, a transmitter (controller) and a receiver (seal) receive radio wave signals, whereby the distance and direction from the transmitter to the receiver can be detected. However, if the radio signal does not reach, the position of the receiver cannot be specified.

  In both Patent Documents 2 and 3, a warning sound is generated when the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is greater than a predetermined distance. May be lost in the surrounding noise, and the owner may not be able to recognize it even though a forgotten item is detected. Even in situations where it is not desired to generate an alarm sound, an alarm sound will be generated unconditionally if the distance between the transmitter and the receiver is increased.

  As in Patent Document 3, in a system that generates an alarm sound when a transmitter and a receiver are closer than a predetermined distance, if the point where it seems that something has been left is limited to a narrow range, the alarm sound can be relied on. You can search for lost items. However, if a point that seems to have been left behind cannot be specified within a narrow range, it is not possible to search for lost items by relying on the alarm sound.

  A first object of the present invention is to provide an article management apparatus that solves the above-described problem of Patent Document 1 and that can manage articles in a pseudo manner even in places where radio waves do not reach and can search for articles. It is in.

  The second object of the present invention is to provide an article management apparatus that can solve the above-mentioned problems of Patent Documents 2 and 3 and that can easily and reliably search for forgotten items.

In order to achieve the above object, the present invention is characterized in that the following measures are taken.
(1) A wireless tag reading unit that communicates with a wireless tag attached to an article and reads the ID code; a position specifying unit that specifies a position where the ID code is read; and the read ID code, Article information registering means for registering in association with the specified reading position; article specifying means for specifying an article to be searched; and for the specified article, the ID code reading position is extracted from the article information registering means. And a search result output means for outputting the extracted reading position.
(2) A wireless tag reader that communicates with a wireless tag attached to an article and reads the ID code; and activates the wireless tag reader in response to a predetermined initial registration operation. Initial registration means for registering as a carry-on goods list, monitoring means for energizing the wireless tag reading means at a predetermined cycle, and registering the read ID code as a monitor result list; and In response to a predetermined search operation, a forgotten object detection means for detecting a forgotten object, a position specifying means for specifying a position where the forgotten object is detected, a forgotten object registration means for registering the forgotten object and its detected position, and And a forgotten object search means for outputting the registered forgotten thing and its detection position.

According to the present invention, the following effects are achieved.
(1) As long as the article is located nearby, the position is always monitored and updated and registered, so that the position where the article can be recognized last is registered even if it is far away from the article. Therefore, even at a position far away from the article, the current position can be searched as the last recognized position.
(2) When a user leaves the article, that is, when a forgotten item is detected, the position is immediately registered.If the owner notices the forgotten item and performs a predetermined search operation, the forgotten item is detected. Since it can be confirmed together, it becomes easy to search for lost items.
(3) Since the date and time when the forgotten item was detected is also registered, it becomes easier to search for the lost item.
(4) When a forgotten object is detected, an alarm sound is emitted if the alarm sound is permitted, and a vibration is generated if the alarm sound is prohibited. Can be recognized.

  Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a configuration of a portable article management apparatus according to the present invention. In this embodiment, an article management function is implemented in a mobile phone.

  The radio control unit 2 includes a reception circuit, a transmission circuit, a synthesizer circuit, a radio signal processing circuit, and the like for performing radio communication with the base station 11 via the antenna AT, and is further transmitted from a plurality of GPS satellites 12 to receive the antenna. It has a GPS control unit that decodes GPS radio waves received by AT.

  The wireless tag reading unit 3 reads the ID code of the wireless tag located within the effective communication range in a non-contact manner. In this embodiment, data formats such as keys, wallets, notebooks, pencil cases, etc. that cannot be mounted with a location system that identifies their current location, such as GPS or wireless LAN, due to size, weight, or power supply constraints A radio frequency ID (RFID: Radio Frequency ID) 20 (20a, 20b,...) Registered with an ID code is attached. The wireless tag reading unit 3 reads ID codes registered in these wireless tags 20.

  The input operation unit 4 includes input keys such as numeric keys and cursor keys. The main control unit 1 controls the mobile phone according to a control program stored in advance in the ROM 6. The RAM 7 provides a work area to the main control unit 1. Further, an LCD display unit 5, a speaker 8, a microphone 9, and a vibrator 10 are connected to the main control unit 1.

  FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram schematically showing the configuration of the main control unit 1 and the RAM 7. The same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts.

  The first monitoring unit 101 of the main control unit 1 activates the wireless tag reading unit 3 at a predetermined cycle set in advance. The second monitoring unit 102 activates the wireless tag reading unit 3 in response to a predetermined monitoring operation on the input operation unit 4. When the wireless tag reading unit 3 is energized and the ID code of the wireless tag 20 is read, the position specifying unit 103 determines the read position based on the GPS system or a radio wave transmitted from each base station 11. It specifies based on the electric field strength of. When the wireless tag reading unit 3 reads the ID code of the wireless tag 20, the time measuring unit 104 specifies the reading date and time.

  The article information registration unit 105 associates the ID code read by the wireless tag reading unit 3 with the reading position specified by the position specifying unit 103 and the reading date and time specified by the time measuring unit 104, and Register in the article information table 70 of the RAM 7. The registered article deletion unit 106 deletes part or all of the article information registered in the article information table 70 in response to a predetermined deletion operation on the input operation unit 4.

  In response to a predetermined article designation operation on the input operation unit 4, the search article designation unit 107 instructs the article search unit 108 to search for the designated article. The article search unit 108 extracts the ID code reading position and reading date and time of the specified article from the article information table 70. The extracted reading position and reading date and time are output to the LCD display unit 5 as a search result.

  FIG. 3 is a flowchart showing the procedure of “article monitoring process” for monitoring the current position of the article and updating and registering it in the article information table 70.

  In step S101, the first monitoring unit 101 determines whether it is a predetermined monitoring cycle. If it is a monitoring cycle, the process proceeds to step S103. In the present embodiment, monitoring can be started by manual operation. If it is determined that the monitoring cycle is not set, the process proceeds to step S102. In step S102, when a predetermined monitoring operation on the input operation unit 4 is detected by the second monitoring unit 102, the process also proceeds to step S103. In step S103, the wireless tag reader 3 is energized and a request signal is transmitted.

  In step S104, a response signal returned from the wireless tags 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d of each article that has received the request signal is received. In step S105, the ID code included in each response signal is read. In step S106, the current position is specified by the position specifying unit 103. In step S107, the time measuring unit 104 specifies the current date and time. In step S108, the read ID code is registered in the article information table 70 together with the specified current position and current date and time. If the read ID code is already registered in the article information table 70, the registered current position and current date and time are updated to the current current position and current date and time.

  FIG. 4 shows a procedure of “article deletion processing” for deleting article information already registered in the article information table 70 regarding the article when it is no longer necessary to discard or transfer the article and monitor its position. It is the shown flowchart.

  In step S201, the registered article deletion unit 106 determines whether or not a predetermined deletion operation has been performed on the input operation unit 4. When the deletion operation is detected, a list of all articles registered in the article information table 70 is displayed on the LCD display unit 5 in step S202. When an article to be deleted is designated in step S203, information on the article is deleted from the article information table 70 in step S204.

  FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing the procedure of “article search processing” for searching for the position of an article that has been lost.

  In step S <b> 301, the search article designation unit 107 determines whether or not an operation for article search has been performed on the input operation unit 4. When an article search is instructed, a list of all articles registered in the article information table 70 is displayed on the LCD display unit 5 in step S302. In step S303, when an article to be searched is designated, the search article designation unit 107 instructs the article search unit 108 to search for the designated article. In step S304, an article search is executed, and the reading position and reading date and time of the ID code are extracted from the article information table 70 for the designated article. In step S305, the extracted reading position and reading date and time are output to the LCD display unit 5 together with the article name as a search result.

  In the above-described embodiment, the ID code returned in response to the request signal has been described as being registered together with its reading position and reading date and time. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, an ID code to be read may be registered in advance, and the reading position and the reading date / time may be updated and registered only when the same ID code as the registered ID code is returned.

  According to the present embodiment, as long as the article is located nearby, the position is constantly monitored and updated and registered, so even if the article is far away from the article, the position where the article was last recognized can be registered. Has been. Therefore, even at a position far away from the article, the current position can be searched as the last recognized position.

  FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram schematically representing the configuration of the main control unit 1 and the RAM 7 according to another embodiment of the present invention. The same reference numerals as those described above represent the same or equivalent parts.

  The initial registration unit 301 of the main control unit 1 activates the wireless tag reading unit 3 in response to a predetermined initial registration operation with respect to the input operation unit 4, and uses the read ID code as a carry-on item list in the RAM 7. Registered in the carry-on goods table 71. The monitoring unit 302 activates the wireless tag reading unit 3 at a predetermined cycle, and registers the read ID code in the monitoring result table 72 of the RAM 7 as a monitoring result list. The forgotten item detection unit 303 compares the carry-on item list with the monitoring result list, and detects the occurrence of the forgotten item when there is an ID code that is already registered in the carry-on item list and not registered in the monitoring result list.

  The position specifying unit 307 specifies the current position using GPS when the occurrence of the forgotten thing is detected. The time measuring unit 308 identifies the date and time when the occurrence of the forgotten item is detected. The lost article registration unit 304 registers the ID code of the detected lost article together with the detected position and date and time of the lost article in the lost article table 73 of the RAM 7.

  When a forgotten item is detected, the alarm determination unit 305 determines whether the alarm is generated at the position and time. If the alarm is not prohibited, the alarm determination unit 305 generates an alarm sound from the speaker 8. If the alarm is prohibited, the vibrator 10 is energized to generate vibration. In response to a predetermined forgotten thing search operation for the input operation unit 4, the forgotten thing search unit 306 outputs the forgotten item registered in the forgotten item table 73, its detection position, and detection date and time to the LCD display unit 5.

  FIG. 7 is a flowchart showing a procedure of an “initial registration process” in which an article such as a key or a wallet is pre-registered in the mobile phone as a carrying item before carrying it.

  In step S401, it is determined whether an initial registration operation has been performed. Here, when the owner collects the items in the vicinity of the mobile phone and performs a predetermined key operation, the initial registration unit 301 determines that this is an initial registration operation, and the process proceeds to step S402. In step S402, the wireless tag reader 3 is energized and a request signal is transmitted. In step S403, response signals returned from the wireless tags 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d of the carry-on items that have received the request signal are received. In step S404, the ID code included in each response signal is read. In step S405, the read ID code of each wireless tag 20 is registered in the carry item table 71 of the RAM 7 as a carry item list.

  FIG. 8 shows that after registration of carry-on items is completed as described above, it is always monitored whether or not these carry-on items are close to each other. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the product monitoring process.

  In step S501, it is determined whether a predetermined monitoring start operation has been detected by the monitoring unit 302, or whether the “carrying goods monitoring process” has already been started. First, it is determined whether or not there is a monitoring start operation. When a predetermined monitoring start operation is performed on the input operation unit 4, the process proceeds to step S502.

  In step S502, the wireless tag reading unit 3 is activated by the monitoring unit 302 and a request signal is transmitted. In step S503, a response signal returned from each of the wireless tags 20a, 20b, 20c, and 20d that has received the request signal is received. In step S504, the ID code included in each response signal is read. In step S505, the plurality of read ID codes are registered in the monitoring result table 72 of the RAM 7 as a monitoring result list.

  In step S506, the carry-item list and the monitoring result list are compared, and it is determined whether there is a carry-on item that has not responded to the request signal. If there is an unanswered carried item, the “lost item notification process” in step S507 is executed.

  FIG. 9 is a flowchart showing the procedure of the “lost object notification process”. In step S601, the position specifying unit 307 specifies the current position as the detected position of the lost item. In step S602, the alarm determination unit 305 determines whether to immediately generate an alarm at the current position. This determination is made based on whether or not a prohibited place and a prohibited time for which an alarm is not desired are registered in advance, and whether the current position and the current time satisfy the prohibited condition. If the current position and the current time match the prohibition condition, the process proceeds to step S604 and the vibrator 10 is activated. On the other hand, if the prohibition condition is not met, the process proceeds to step S603, where an alarm sound is generated from the speaker 8.

  Returning to FIG. 8, in step S508, the presence or absence of a confirmation operation is determined. That is, if the owner notices the vibration or alarm sound and operates the mobile phone to confirm the forgotten thing, its detection position, and detection date and time, the process proceeds to step S509. In step S509, the ID code of the forgotten item is deleted from the carry-on item table 71. On the other hand, if the confirmation operation is not performed, the process proceeds to step S510. In step S510, the lost object detection position and detection time are registered in the lost object table 73 in association with the ID code of the lost object. In step S511, the ID code of the forgotten item is deleted from the carry-on item table 71.

  Also in the next cycle, the carry-on item list and the monitoring result list are compared in step S506. Here, since the ID code of the forgotten item has already been deleted from the carry-on item list, it is determined that there is no unanswered carry item if no new forgotten item has been added, and the process proceeds to step S520. In step S520, it is determined whether or not the ID code of the lost item is registered in the lost item table 73. If the ID code of the lost item is registered, the process proceeds to step S521, and the “lost item notification process” is executed.

  In step S522, the presence / absence of a confirmation operation is determined in the same manner as in step S508. If a confirmation operation is detected, the ID code of the lost item is deleted from the lost item table 73 in step S523.

  FIG. 10 is a flowchart showing a procedure of “forgotten object search process” in which the owner who has not recognized the vibration or alarm when the lost object is detected searches for the lost object by manual operation.

  In step S <b> 701, it is determined whether a forgotten object search operation has been performed. Here, when the owner performs a predetermined key operation, this is determined to be a forgotten object search operation in the forgotten object search unit 306, and the process proceeds to step S702. In step S <b> 702, it is determined whether or not an ID code of a lost item is registered in the lost item table 73. If the ID code is not registered, the process proceeds to step S703, and information indicating that the forgotten item is not registered is displayed on the LCD display unit 5. If the ID code is registered, the process proceeds to step S704, where the ID code (article name), its detection position, and detection time are read and displayed on the LCD display unit 5. In step S 705, the lost item ID code is deleted from the lost item table 73.

  According to the present embodiment, when the user leaves the article, that is, when a forgotten thing is detected, the position is immediately registered, and if the owner notices the forgotten thing and performs a predetermined search operation, the forgotten thing is Since it can be confirmed together with the detected position, it becomes easy to search for lost items.

1 is a block diagram of a portable article management apparatus according to the present invention. 3 is a functional block diagram of a first embodiment of a main control unit 1 and a RAM 7. FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating a procedure of “article monitoring process”. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of "article deletion processing". It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of "article search process". It is a functional block diagram of 2nd Embodiment of the main-control part 1 and RAM7. 5 is a flowchart showing a procedure of “initial registration processing”. It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of "carrying goods monitoring processing". It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of the "lost thing notification process". It is the flowchart which showed the procedure of "forgetful thing search processing".

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 101,102 ... Monitoring part, 103,307 ... Position specific | specification part, 104,308 ... Time measuring part, 105 ... Article information registration part, 106 ... Registered article deletion part, 107 ... Search article designation | designated part, 108 ... Article search part, 301 ... initial registration unit, 302 ... monitoring unit, 303 ... left-behind object detection unit, 304 ... left-behind item registration unit, 305 ... alarm determination unit, 306 ... left-behind item search unit

Claims (9)

In a portable article management device that provides information necessary for searching for articles,
Wireless tag reading means that communicates with the wireless tag attached to the article and reads the ID code;
Position specifying means for specifying the position where the ID code is read;
Article information registration means for registering the read ID code in association with the specified reading position;
Article designating means for designating articles to be searched;
Article search means for extracting the ID code reading position from the article information registration means for the designated article,
And a search result output means for outputting the extracted reading position. 2. The portable article management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the article information registering unit updates a previous reading position that has already been registered with respect to the read ID code with the current reading position. It further comprises a timing means for specifying the date and time when the ID code was read,
The article information registration means manages the read ID code in association with its reading position and reading date and time,
The article search means extracts the reading position and reading date and time of the ID code corresponding to the designated article from the article information registration means,
3. The portable article management apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the search result output means outputs the extracted reading position and reading date and time. 4. The article management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for periodically energizing the wireless tag reading means. 5. The portable article management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for energizing the wireless tag reading means in response to a predetermined registration operation. The portable article management apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising means for deleting the registered ID code and its reading position. In a portable article management device that detects forgotten items and provides information necessary for the search,
Wireless tag reading means that communicates with the wireless tag attached to the article and reads the ID code;
Energizing the wireless tag reading means in response to a predetermined initial registration operation, and initial registration means for registering the read ID code as a carrying goods list;
Monitoring means for energizing the wireless tag reading means at a predetermined cycle and registering the read ID code as a monitoring result list;
Lost thing detection means for detecting the lost item by comparing the monitoring result list with the carry item list,
Position specifying means for specifying the position where the forgotten object is detected;
Forgotten thing registration means for registering the forgotten thing and its detection position;
A portable article management apparatus comprising: a registered forgotten thing and a forgotten thing searching means for outputting the registered forgotten thing and its detection position in response to a predetermined search operation. It further comprises a timing means for specifying the date and time when the forgotten thing was detected,
The forgotten thing registration means registers the forgotten thing and its detection position, detection date and time,
The portable article management apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the forgotten thing search unit outputs the forgotten thing, its detection position, and detection date and time. A means for generating an alarm;
Means for generating vibrations;
Means for registering at least one of the places where the alarm is prohibited and the time of day;
Means for determining whether an alarm at the position and time is prohibited when the forgotten object is detected;
The portable article management apparatus according to claim 6 or 7, wherein an alarm is generated if the alarm is not prohibited, and a vibration is generated if the alarm is prohibited.

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